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Amargasaurus (/ ə ˌ m ɑːr ɡ ə ˈ s ɔː r ə s /; "La Amarga lizard") is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous epoch (129.4–122.46 mya) of what is now Argentina.The only known skeleton was discovered in 1984 and is virtually complete, including a fragmentary skull, making Amargasaurus one of the best-known sauropods of its epoch.
Tschopp includes Dyslocosaurus and Dystrophaeus as dicraeosaurids, two genera traditionally not considered to be part of Dicraeosauridae. The specimens of Dystrophaeus viamelae are highly fragmentary, with only a few bones available for study including an ulna, partial scapula, partial dorsal vertebrae, a distal radius, and some metacarpals.
Amargasaurus probably fed at mid-height, as shown by the orientation of its inner ear and the articulation of its neck vertebrae, which suggest a habitual position of the snout some 80 centimeters (31 inches) above the ground and a maximum height of 2.7 meters (8.9 feet). Within the Sauropoda, Amargasaurus was a member of the family ...
Amargasaurus cazaui: MACN-N 15 [59] Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum [59] Barremian [59] La Amarga Formation, Patagonia [59] Partial skull, mostly articulated vertebra, partial hip, and limb fragments [59] Hypothetical skeletal reconstruction with the holotype shown in white: Amargatitanis macni: MACN PV N53 [60]
Amargatitanis and Amargasaurus probably fed above ground level at heights of up to 2.7 meters (8.9 ft), as evidenced by the anatomy of their neck and inner ear. Rebbachisaurids like Zapalasaurus presumably fed at ground-level, while basal Titanosauriforms exploited food sources at higher levels.
Interpretation of the soft part anatomy of a neck vertebra of the related Amargasaurus, showing the bifurcated neural spines, supravertebral diverticulum, and horny sheaths in cross section. A similar anatomy has been suggested for Bajadasaurus.
Additionally, each vertebra was extremely long and had a number of empty spaces in them which would have been filled only with air. An air-sac system connected to the spaces not only lightened the long necks, but effectively increased the airflow through the trachea, helping the creatures to breathe in enough air.
The vertebrae are extremely elongated, with the largest one having an overall length of 1.4 m (4.6 ft), making it the longest sauropod neck vertebra on record. [9] Examination of the bones revealed that they are honeycombed with tiny air cells, and are very thin, like the bones of a chicken or an ostrich , making the neck lighter and easier to ...